When dressing ourselves, we tend to follow the seasons, using a ‘summer wardrobe’ in summer and an ‘autumn wardrobe’ in autumn. However, in reality, there are still summer evenings when a winter sweater needs to be pulled out of the closet. Dressing a baby actually follows the same rhythm and always depends on the specific day’s weather. Regardless of the season, an autumn downpour or an early spring gust of wind can occur even in mid-summer – which is why it’s crucial to approach dressing a baby based on daily weather conditions, not seasons.
Special considerations for dressing a newborn
Dressing a newborn differs from dressing an older baby mainly during the first few weeks of life. This is a period when, even in warm summer weather, an infant should wear, for example, a long-sleeved bodysuit and pants or a cotton romper, ensuring the baby’s body (excluding the face and hands) is evenly covered. A hat should also definitely be worn by a newborn.
If a baby is born during a summer heatwave, it’s best to time outdoor excursions for early morning or evening when it’s cooler. Babies don’t tolerate excessive heat, and during summer swelter, creating comfortable temperature conditions for the baby can be challenging even indoors – as you can’t simply create a draft.
Dress a summer baby as you would yourself.
Once the baby is 1-2 weeks old, you can dress them as you would dress yourself for lounging outdoors. In summer, when it tends to be hot even in a thin summer dress, a short-sleeved summer bodysuit and a diaper are sufficient for the baby. However, if the weather is cooler and calls for a cardigan over your dress, the baby will also need a wool set or a cotton romper over their indoor clothes.
Even if it’s difficult at first to figure out how to dress your child, you’ll gradually understand what suits your baby best. When going for a walk outside, you can always take a blanket to put over the baby if needed. If you’re unsure how to dress your child, opt for thinner clothes and bring a blanket in the stroller, as overheating is more dangerous for a child than being a little cold.
Over time, you’ll discover which clothing items suit your child best, and you can stock up on them as needed. Initially, it’s worth trying out the basic essentials and later acquiring more of the ones you enjoy using most.
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